Time to spot those old homesites this spring. Here is how.

[Tnmountains]

Spring is upon us and I am already seeing some old homesites. There are no foundations or chimneys visible but I know they are there. I look for the patches of spring plants blooming. The first one I look for in the fields and woods is the jonquil .




Another old time plant that will let you know there is an old home site is this little ivy called Vinca Minor or periwinkle. It is an invasive ground cover.





Both of these plants were planted around old home sites sometimes 200 years ago. You see the jonquils in the spring for a short time but the old timers know to hunt those areas as they are the tale tale signs of an old home place. I am sure there are more spring flowers to look for. Feel free to share and post some more.
Good luck!
HH
TnMtns

 

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[LinkHylian]

Ill keep an eye out!

 

[labradigger1]

Been using this method for years here, also look for asparagus and garlic, they survive for generations. Nice thing about daffodils they are in a line and usually point you to the front door. I also look for trees not native to the region or out of place w/ the surrounding trees. HH

 

[wingmaster]

Yep I look for any plants or trees out of place to the area I'm detecting, the flowers are easier to spot when flowering but can be seen when not flowering you just need to be right on top of them once all the other vegetation starts growing. HH

 

[TreasurePirate69]

Great tips!

 

[wainzoid]

i would include tiger lilies, apple or pear trees, forsythia, and pines planted in a group or row.

 

[Holly_squirrel]

Smart! My parents took me to an old farm that they remember getting torn down as kids, last week. It's been used as a dump... So it's nearly impossible to not spend hours digging trash... Only thing left , to identify it as a home.... Daffodils.

 

[Holly_squirrel]

i would include tiger lilies, apple or pear trees, forsythia, and pines planted in a group or row.

Tiger lilies are a good one. Except in PA they kinda grow along the roads everywhere. Apple trees? Huh. Never seen that, they get choked out here. Be cool to find one in a woods

 

[wainzoid]

Tiger lilies are a good one. Except in PA they kinda grow along the roads everywhere. Apple trees? Huh. Never seen that, they get choked out here. Be cool to find one in a woods

The apple trees (usually just one or two left from a small orchard) remind me of those big hollow trees on 'Wizard of Oz'.... sorry no flying monkees

 

[Wyomingmedic]

Around here, none of that stuff grows. Too cold/rocky/dry.

What we use is potatoes. Folk would throw their potato scraps out of the window for years and years. Eventually, a healthy potato crop took off and would last forever if in decent soil.

Find potatoes, find a cabin. Almost guaranteed.

WM

 

[releventchair]

Lilacs around here. Can spot them far off.

 

[Tnmountains]

Around here it might be an old moss covered peach tree or wild pair, even a persimmon tree or a walnut .

 

[dougofpa]

I look for Apple trees....man, you can always sniff out some silver under these trees.

 

[jayg]

awesome tips!

 

[CoinFetcher]

I would love to see a parallel row of Daisey's growing in the middle of nowhere.

 

[Tnmountains]

I would love to see a parallel row of Daisey's growing in the middle of nowhere.

Sounds like a walkway to home to me

 

[Bum Luck]

Old beer cellars here in Wisconsin. Dead giveaway.

 

[elijahhenry10]

Good thinking with the flowers! I know of a spot in a field near me that has flowers growing every spring. They look almost identical to the ones you posted. Silly me always picked them for my mom instead of hunting near them!!

I do look for apple trees, but that's usually just to get myself a snack rather than to hunt by

 

[SusanMN]

If you are in the Midwest look for clumps of trees , usually on hills, surrounded by grassy fields. It was mostly prairie land when settled, the house went up on a high spot and trees were planted as wind breaks.

 

[jayg]

old schools are a good find